We Are the Clay: Think On That!

One of the most known and popular verses, thanks to a song, follows:

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isa 64:8). 

     That seems to refer to the creation, and that may apply. Since man came from the dust (Gen 3:19), God did mix water with the dust and made clay. That is known because the name "Adam" means,

Comes from the classical Hebrew word for earth, man, soil (Genesis 2 speaks of God forming Adam out of "the dust of the ground".) This word is related to adamah which means "ground" and dam which is the Hebrew word for blood.(englishstackexchange.com). 

     Many interpret that name to mean both "mankind" and "red clay," and perhaps it does have a double meaning, as it seems from the Bible.
     Thus the genesis if mankind was from red clay from which God molded mankind much as a potter would. In fact the prophet Jeremiah was inspired by God to visit the potter, and then spoke to him:

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jer18:1-6). 

     God, when He spoke to Isaiah, was using the same allegory as He did with Jeremiah. In this case, the potter on his wheel, made a vessel with his own hands. The "potter" is symbolic of Jesus in that Jesus made everything (John 3:3).
     Potters use their hands to "shape" vessels.  In Psalm 51, David uses the word "shapen" to signify his original sin. Jesus shaped Adam, or mankind, in perfection. The "hand" of God is Jesus in that Jesus is God in the flesh.
     The genesis of Adam, representing mankind, was that he was shapen perfectly; in the very image of Jesus (Gem 1:26-27). The contest of those two verses is that Adam was molded as one "vessel" but with three characteristics; "image of God" (El), and "our image" (Elohim). Adam's (man's) original molding was "very good." (Gen 1:31). That is extremely like God in that, "There is none good but one, that is, God" (Mat 19:17). Jesus implied that he is God and validated that to the one who called him "good." Adam was made in the image of Jesus since both were molded "very good."
     How "good" is "very good?" Glorified - perfect and non-perishable just as God. Adam, like God, had his own will. The Designer's intention was for Adam to use his will to do His Will. He created Adam providing complete freedom; God, indeed, was permissive in trusting his creature.
     Now back to Jeremiah and the potter: "The vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter." Now is the time for critical analysis: Satan did not cause Adam and Eve to sin. Firstly, the sin is assigned to Adam for several reasons, but primarily, Adam is the one molded from clay. Eve was just a copy of the original pattern with some alterations to allow many such "vessels" to be reproduced!
     The story of Job relates that God allows Satan to mess with his vessels, but unlike Jesus, Satan cannot lay a hand on Job. (Job 1:12). Satan, then, must have no hand on either molding nor remolding Adam. Satan never touched Adam; it was his own choice, and free will was from God. Satan is not God and has no power to change the vessel. 
     Ironically, just as Jeremiah was shown, God's hand molded Israel, he touched Israel and the nation was despoiled. However, the prophecy was that God would remold Israel back to the original perfection. (This is why I believe that Israel is the locale of the Garden of Eden; that nation in the apocolpyse will be remolded to the original.)
     That allegory applies nationally, but also individually. David was shapen in iniquity. God remolded him again to what he once was - a man after God's own heart. David sinned because he was prone to sin in that Adam (mankind) was cursed to do so. Satan has no power to create flaws; Adam, back in the Garden, was given dominion over the other animals, but included himself in that dominance. 
    Sin came into the world because of one man, and just as that, sin will be eliminated from the world by one Man. (Rom 5:12).Along with sin came death. Death was caused by God as punishment; that's the way God marred the clay. He used sin to marr the clay and man was no more "very good" or "glorious." 
     The first man was born of perfect clay and molded in a perfect image! God allowed him to despoil himself since Satan could not touch him. Face it, the Devil can't make people imperfect, only we can, and that's because God tests our fidelity. Fidelity is true to the original glorious design! Infidels are the despoiled vessels. The world is full of "vessels" which cannot contain the Holy Spirit.
     The three characteristics of the vessel God made were creative, spiritual, and matter. The matter of mankind is the clay, the creative is like the Father, and the spiritual is the Spirit of God within. Marred clay vessels lack God's Spirit. The vessel "leaks" Holy Spirit but retains the more "visceral" evil spirit. 
    "Born again" is Jesus putting the marred vessel back on his Potter's Wheel and remolding back to the original design intent. God fixes what we have marred. We must take responsibilty for our own despoilation and cease blaming the Devil. He can merely influence the marring of the vessel since he is not a molder, but we're the "cup" which implodes because we expose ouselves to the elements of tne world. 
    Jesus's purpose is taking that brittle clay, mixing a little water and blood with it to make it pliable, and then remolding the marred clay back to the glorious shape which God had in His Mind in the beginning. Salvation is a return to God's intent, not merely back to the iniquitous condition of our birth. Hence, regeneration commences with God remolding and terminates when He is finished with us. 
     Whether or not to go to the Potter's wheel is our choice. The realizaton that we are flawed is the first step, and the second is that God can remold us. Thirdly, is allowing God to remold without resisting, then God has a free hand to make a new vessel to the original design; one that retains His Holy Spirit, is pleasing to Him (not us), and is "good" in His eyes (not our own.)
     God made Israel limp, if you remember. Jacob (Israel) wrestled with Jesus and Jesus marred the pliable vessel:

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. (Gen 32:24-25). 

     With that, the man, Israel, limped thereafter. God marred the clay of the both the man and nation of Israel just as he marred the clay of Adam. As we see from Isaiah, Israel the nation, will be remolded, and so will Adam and all mankind with one-provision - that we get on the Potter's wheel and be receptive to remolding! That is rebirth, and is the start of a process of remolding.
     When God is finished, us creatures will be remolded back to the original design. Regeneration, then, is finished when God is finished with us. The blood and water were provided by the Potter on the cross, and before we are pliable, our vessel must be restored with the water and the blood. (John 19:34; 1 John 5:6-8). The regeneration on God's "wheel" is complete when our life ends: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phi 1:21).
     "To live" is the "wheel" in that passage, Christ is the "Potter", and we are the finished vessel, as to die is gain! That's when the Potter finishes the vessel, and it becomes a glorious new spirit but is still in need of a container. The Potter's entire project is complete at the General Resurrection when the spirit is put in the clay as God breathes life into the clay again.
    Regeneration is the finished "vessel." The finished vessel is unmarred and imperishable; it is remolded to last for eternity! Isaiah saw that process; he saw Israel, representing Adam, Jacob, and us "saved." Salvation is the completion of the vessel, but it's not over until we can no longer marr the vessel again by sinning. Once the vessel is complete, it will be kept safe forever on God's shelf in a room in His many Mansions (John 14:2). I look forward for my remolded "vessel" to become safe in one of those rooms in Heaven!
     We sing songs and read scripture, often without much thought. Life is that wheel, and Jesus is the Potter; always was! Back when He was remolding Israel, God was foreshowing a Plan for our own remolding, and it was Jesus all the time, as can be seen below:

Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. (Isa 64:5).

On Holy Matrimony

     The issue came up about how should the church deal with those in the congregation who cohabitate and have sexual relations. That is a sensitive issue in this time because the institution of marriage is under attack by unseen forces. Should the church just turn a blind eye to the relationship and what others think, or is there more.
     Preachers, I believe, fear preaching on this important subject out of fear of isolating both sinners and Christians. The most important thing for the good of the soul, is the individuals' personal relationships with Jesus, not what others or the preachers want. Christians who cohabitate, as with any other person who proclaims Christ, must want to be Christlike in the eyes of God and others. Holy living is not a choice, but what Christians show the world and how God knows that He is taken seriously.
     The preacher's job is to teach scripture, and that includes reproof and correction (2 Tim 3:16). The messenger should never be shot, as the saying goes, but Christians have a responsibility to confront issues affecting the relationship of others and God. Therefore, excuse my viewpoints as they come from what scripture teaches and not from the world.
     In apostolic times there was another doctrine in two of the churches of Asia - the doctrine of Nicolaism. The deacon Nicolas was the proponent of the false doctrine that God hates so intensely. (Yes, God hates the sin, but not the sinners.) One of the two passages on that evil doctrine comes from this passage:

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev 2:14-16).

    It seems that some were doing what they wanted to do beyond the auspices of the Church. The Council of Jerusalem had ruled against traditional Jewish beliefs with the exception of three things:

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they (1) abstain from pollutions of idols, and from (2) fornication, and (3) from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. (Acts 15:19-21). (numbering mine.)

     The Nicolaitans were going against the authority of the Church whose conclusions were inspired by God, and accepted by godly men. Thereafter, there was much cohesion in the Church. Everyone could worship as was their custom but for those three things. They were from the Mosaic Law, and it turns out that God hated the doctrine against that ruling.
     It must be understood from those passages (Acts and Revelation) that the Church must and does have rules and regulations!  If anything goes, it may cause a stumblingblock among people in the Church and even keep others away from the Church. (Church capitalized means not the local church congregation but the universal body of believes. However, scripture applied that to two local bodies of believers who accepted that doctrine.)
     No, what goes on in the church does not stay in the church, just like it does not really in Las Vegas. In other words, the church leadership must ensure that the public looks at the church congregation and sees righteous Christians. The two rulings on idols and blood are respecting God surely because He is God and salvation is by the blood (Mat 26:28). That is important because Jesus's blood represents redemption; thus Christians must respect the Doctrine of Christ. It becomes a stumblingblock to those who just will not submit to God's authority. To the general public, the Church would seem to be following their own doctrines, and indeed the Nicolaitans were!
     The third ruling was on fornication. Many ignore fornication. One divorced Christian allowed that his three sexual relationships were okay because it was consensual. Well, fornication is consensual sex outside the contract of Holy Matrimony. Some say, one of the pair would have to be married for that to be fornication, but scripture does not support that. Sexual sins are grievous to God and Christians must understand that because it is what the pagans do. When Paul said, "It is better to marry than to burn" (1 Cor 7:19), he was referring the burning desire of sexual lust. Marriage grants consensual sex. But what is marriage?
     Marriage is Holy Matrimony. Adam and Eve became one flesh. Examine Holy Matrimony:

But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter. And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. (Mark 10:6-11).

Marriage (Holy Matrimony) consists of the following basics:

•  Male and female... period!
• Must leave the authority of the parents.
•  Must "adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly" to each other (Merriam-Webster Dictionary; "cleave")
• Be in unity - dedication to each other and behave in the interests of not each but the family unit. That implies no adultery nor triangulation with third persons.
•  Marriage is a contract under God, whose Law is Supreme to civil laws. (When the courts ruled that same-sex marriage is acceptable, God did not!). Legal divorce does not break the contract because mankind cannot break what God has joined together.
•  That notion implies that marriage is a lifelong holy institution unless God's contract is broken. The only legitimate reason for divorce is adultery. (Mat 19:9). Any type of relationship beyond that is sinful, but remember, God is gracious; Jesus died for the sin of adultery as well! (The local church sometimes makes the sin of adultery as the unpardonable sin, but that is not the case.) Marriage is forever, and must be approached with that idea in mind.
•  Breaking the marriage bond is sinful, and is called "adultery."

     In apostolic times marriage was fairly well those things. The man and woman left their parents and cohabited with the intention of remaining together forever, bearing children together, and being recognized as husband and wife by family and friends. That seems to fit Mark's definition of marriage, and by that time polygamy was taboo in the minds of both Romans and Jews, agreeing with God's Plan in the beginning.

     Holy matrimony, then, has no written contract except for Mark's, but it is written on the hearts of the two joined together. Marriage has much ado with commitment and intention; the two intend to be one unit in spite of any interference from others for perpetuity. The bond is under God - what He has joined together. Some who are legally "married" have never been so under Holy Matrimony. The civil bond can be easily broken but the holy bond cannot be without ignoring the authority of God.

     In other words, there is a spiritual triangulation in marriage -  man and woman, under God. Indeed, Holy Marriage is akin to the relationship between Jesus and the Church, the "Groom" and the "Bride," respectively. The perpetuity of marriage is much like the steadfast faith in Jesus. If one is easily broken so is the other. Marriage, then, is serious business as God is serious about His Doctrine!

     Mark did not call for official wedding vows. However, the institution of marriage has its vows. They are elaborated upon in the bullets above. The intention of the man and woman must be those things. In the last two and one-half centuries, laws have been made to legalize marriages. They are supplementary to God's will. There are no religious requirements for civil marriage, and it is not unholy but neither is it holy. For that reason, most people have traditionally had religious ceremonies as well to make public their vows. (Those views expressed above.) That prevents them being a stumblingblock to others as their intentions are made known. 

     Most marriages up until the early 1800s were by banns; that is "public announcement especially in church of a proposed marriage" (ibid). Traditionally, the couple would stand up in church, announce their intention, and if no one objected, they were considered by the church as man and wife. That was the marriage ceremony. You see, marriage is based a great deal on the intention of uniting; be it for sex or is it for uniting in a holy bond? 

     The sin of the Nicolaitans laid aside all the holiness of the marriage institution. Some in the churches had sexual relations with no intention of marriage, and even multiple sexual partners. Fornication was one of the errors of Balaam, according to God. Balaam allowed that fornication (consensual sexual intercourse) be allowed in the Church. That, along with eating meat polluted by idols, trivialized God. With that said, those within the Church who have serial sexual partners, are non-committal, and have not that HOLY union, and are like the Nicolaitans. In other words, those Christians in the church who have not legally married, should be spiritually trothed - under God, according to the precepts expressed by Mark.

     Care must be taken to not be a stumblingblock to others. That's why banns was a public declaration of intention - that two will be joined together by God and not allow any other to separate the two. Banns is a lifelong commitment of fidelity to one person under the precepts of God. That makes marriage "holy," not the document at the courthouse.

     How should a minister of God approach those in church who cohabitate but remain unmarried, and why would they even do that? There are civil reasons for not getting married. The government actually discourages marriage by its rules - the probate, taxation, and maintenance laws. Furthermore, marriage complicates inheritances because it brings many other parties into the marriage agreement. In this day of blended families, probate rules are often unfair and not to the will of the main parties. 

     What should those who are cohabiting and who are Christians within the church do? My suggestion, based on God's Word, is to have some type of banns, best in the form of Holy Matrimony whether it is made legal or not. Of course, some preachers may not feel comfortable with that, and even some will not marry those who have been married before (except in the case of adultery). That is their understanding of scripture, and they should not be scorned for their principles. 

     Why go through the rite of Holy Matrimony even if already committed to each other as husband and wife? To include God in the relationship, and to cease being a stumblingblock to others who have no knowledge of the depth of the commitment. Yes, what others think does matter because Christians represent God, the Church, and the local church.

Toughlove Must Offend to be Affective

“Toughlove” is loving someone so immensely that they are not desired to perish. Why would a parent risk their children’s hatred to reprove, judge, and maybe shun them? Because they love them so intensely. Toughlove is an immense and intense love that a person risks isolating their loved one. I have a close relative who I love so much that I don’t want to see him destroyed by marijuana. I have another one whom I love so much that I don’t want her to be destroyed by alcohol. I am a Christian, but I have certain behaviors for which I condemn myself! The only way to change bad behaviors is to know that they are unacceptable! Wise people test their own behavior by some sort of moral code. I test mine by Holy Scripture and often judge myself guilty.

Some test to the standards of the world and pass with flying colors. The law of the world is the Law of God twisted. It seems “good” but in reality, it kills!  Although it is good to love everyone, accepting wrong behaviors leads to eternal death for sinners. Why so, “The wages of sin is death” but the flip-side of that is, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23). Like it or not, Jesus uses positive reinforcement and “negative” punishment – He rewards righteous behavior and punishes unrighteous behavior.

What standard does God use? The Law of God. Where is that found? Not in the precepts of the world but in the precepts of God. They are precepts, not commandments, because precepts are fair standards for regulating behaviors, and righteous people voluntarily ascribe to those regulations. Since God is just, and just rulers do not dictate, how people live is optional, but there are consequences for wrong choices. The consequences are eternal life for those who willingly do God’s will, and eternal death for those who are unwilling to accept God’s will.

David convicted himself of adultery and murder (2 Sam 12). Nathan the prophet could have rebuked David himself, but he allowed David to reprove (reprimand) himself. He used an allegory in such a way that it was obvious to David that he had sinned. David would have rejected Nathan judging him, but wise Nathan put the onus on David to do the judging. Nathan loved David so much that he did not want David to perish forever. In his own way, he called David out for his grievous sins! That was toughlove on Nathan’s part.

Examine John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “The world” is sinners, “for all have sinned” (Rom 3;23). God loved the world so intensely that he sacrificed his only born son. His desire is that everyone trust Him so much that they not perish, and to live forever. Trusting is willingness to obey God. The implication is that those who are unwilling to live life God’s Way, condemn themselves to eternal Hell. What Way is God’s Way? Without sin, or living lives which are appealing to God.

The Bible has a long list of unappealing – disgusting behaviors. They are called “abominations.” Among the abominations are infanticide, homosexuality, and bestiality, as scripture is written:

And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. (Lev 18:21-23). 

Of course, there are many others, but it is in vogue presently to accept and even promote abortion infanticide and homosexual behavior. It is clear that although God loves abortionists, homosexuals, those beast-like, and even those who blaspheme God, He will not tolerate those behaviors by rewarding them with Heaven.  

Telling them of their infractions is fair warning. They must examine the evidence, see the guilt, confess their sins, and change just as anyone else must do. There are no special rules for those the world accepts! The world always demands a level playing field, and God’s rules do not respect certain persons as exempt (Acts 10:34). Even those He loves (whosoever) is subject to his will, reward, or punishment. Why should He exempt our loved ones if He does not exempt His own?

Everyone has loved ones who are sinners. Because a person you love is engaged in sin does not make that sin acceptable. You, in your pride, truly have no authority to set standards! The standards for behavior are set by God. Neither can you define what love is. Love is that toughness that it takes to tell them, you need to change! Nathan had a great method; you devise one akin to his.

I still love those in my family who have their own sins. However, I hate what they are doing to themselves. Drunks and potheads diminish their opportunities, and if they neglect God in the process, they diminish their chances for eternally living. Why not rebuke then if it will save them from perishing? Only the brave has the courage to confront those who affront God. Only the loving has the love to tell people that they are not doing God’s will. It bothers me not that people engage in destructive behaviors; it does, however, bother me that in the end, they will be destroyed!

Tolerance is something God has. However, the theme of scripture is not tolerance, but obedience. Tolerating sin is not the Way for them to go to Heaven, neither is coerced obedience, but refrain by their choice is. Christians must want to please God rather than themselves. Sure, it’s hard; it’s a test! Your eternal future depends on taking the narrow path. Anyone can do the easy things, but the hard things please God.

Christians not only apologize for homosexuality, but promote it. They are propagating and defending sin and sinful lifestyles. No Bible is even needed for that! Scripture has a use: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (1 Tim 3:16). Rather than reprove sin, many approve of it. The meme, “Someone you know is gay. Maybe even someone you love. Think before you speak hate.” is all wrong.

Because someone you know or love is homosexual, is no reason not to offend them for their own spiritual well-being. Correction and reproof are not hate. That meme is deception hatched up by cunning people to justify their abominations. True love is wanting that none should perish; that is worth offending anyone for.

I have had a great friend chance offending me by reproof. He hit the nail’s head dead-on. He told me what I needed to hear, not tickle my ears with what I fancied (2 Tim 4:3).

If you love somewhat with the intensity that they not perish, now is the time to speak even of it offends. Better to be offended here on Earth than in Hell!

Why America's Involvement With Israel?

Why does America and the West support Israel so intensely? Is it because we are busy-bodies or are there less obvious reasons? Today, let’s examine why, and maybe it will even reinforce the belief of skeptics that God has a plan for us in His overall Plan!

    

Israel, in scripture, is the bride and God, the bridegroom: “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isa 61:5). Likewise, the Church is also the bride to Jesus, the bridegroom. John the Baptist said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom” (John 3:29), as he denied that he was the Messiah.

Hence, Israel represents the Christian Church (capitalized because it is the body of believers, not the building). Israel is both the spiritual body of believers and the place of spirituality.  Isaiah chapter sixty-two seems to be about the renewal of Israel, but is more about the resurrection of Israel - as the Bride - is the Church! The prophets were the foundation of the Christian Church, as is written:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. (Ephes 2:19-21).

As a spiritual entity and place of spirituality, Israel exists in two realms – the heaven and the Earth. God’s “throne” is in New Jerusalem is heaven and His “footstool” is in Jerusalem (Isa 66:1). Isaiah saw the fate of Jerusalem. He understood that the City of God would someday return to its foundation in Jerusalem as revealed to John and written in Revelation chapter twenty-one. 

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. (Isa 62:6-7).

Why is Israel so important to the West? Because, as God promised, angels (watchman) protect Jerusalem’s walls. Jerusalem will someday be the “praise of the Earth.” That’s because Jerusalem is the very place heaven will come down and where God will reign. Then, God’s “throne” will be in New Jerusalem where is “footstool” is as well. Jesus is the manifestation of God. After the Earth is washed by fire to be made pure, the New Heaven and Earth will be on Earth, and Jerusalem will be its epicenter – the Holy of Holies – where Jesus will rule!

The scepter which Jesus holds was spoken of by Isaiah. Whereas, the false goddess Libertas holds a torch on the shore of America, God – Jesus – will stand on the “isle” of Jerusalem on a Holy Mountain and hold the Cross!  Isaiah saw Jesus, “lift up a standard for the people.” Isaiah surely saw Jesus on the Cross, saving Jerusalem as that place God will have His “many mansions” (John 14:2).

The Garden of Eden will become the City of God, and a beautiful City indeed. Referring back to Isaiah 62:7 above, it will be made “a place of praise,” as was written by the psalmist: “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).

Isaiah heard Jesus quoting that scripture long before he even quoted Psalm 22 as he died. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” (Psalm 22:1).Those were the very words that Jesus spoke according the apostle Matthew, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mat 22:46).

Isaiah, hence, saw the day when Jesus would quote Psalm 22 on Calvary. Because Calvary was the place of a reason for praise, in New Jerusalem, praise will be there: “Thy will be done, in Earth as it is in Heaven,” as Jesus told us to pray. That is when New Jerusalem finally comes back home to its place in the midst of the Garden!

Isaiah revealed the promise which God gave to Abraham. He saw what John revealed to the world:

Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. (Isa 62:11).

Jerusalem will always be a “city not forsaken” meaning it will be for perpetuity. Christians are citizens of that great City, and as Israel is the daughter of “Zion” so are Christians.  Zion is New Jerusalem, not the “harlot” that it is now, but the regenerated city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the “daughter of Zion” in that the bride will be made pure again!

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. (Isa 52:1)

America whose citizens are of Jepheth’s line, must always protect Israel and Jerusalem. Why does that matter? God promised that America and the West would when he told Noah, “God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant” (Gen 9:27). Christians were given an obligation as “watchman” (Isa 62:5) to “dress and keep” the Garden of Jerusalem – Zion (Gen 2:15). Better words for “dressing and keeping” is to “serve and protect” (Strong’s Dictionary).

Hence, the role of the West is to serve and protect Israel. Why is America always there when adversity comes on Jerusalem? Because as Christians from Jepheth’s Gentile line, we were assigned by God to keep Jerusalem safe as we serve theirs and God’s interests. Indeed, that is the place of “Shem’s Tent” in which Christians shall dwell! In other words, America is protecting the future abode of Christians in fulfillment of God’s Word and prophecy.

Trees of Righteousness

     I return to the theme, I see tees as men, standing, as a counter to blind Bartamaeus's, "I see men as trees, walking" (Mark 8:24). Long before I ever read that passage, I proposed that Adam, by dressing and keeping the Garden, was assigned to serve and protect the living souls who would someday be there from multiplication. In other words, I saw trees as men, standing! There were more than the two trees in the Garden. Those two was in the midst, implying that the Garden contained other trees outside the central location.
     The Tree of Life, of course, is allegorical of Jesus and the "Philosophy" or "Wisdom Tree" allegorical of Lucifer. The other trees of the Garden were allegorical, it seems, as representative of future living souls.
     One tree in the midst of the Garden was the Tree of Righteousness, and the other, the Tree of Unrighteousness. Examine the following passage: "If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him (1 John 2:21). The Tree of Life, representative of Jesus, is the Tree of Righteousness, and the other "trees" who are born of him are "trees of righteousness." Now take a look at what Isaiah said:

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified... And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.... For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. (Isa 61:3,9,11).

     The trees of the Garden were "planted" by the Lord. Isaiah referred to "trees of righteousness" also planted of the Lord. I believe that Isaiah verified my hunch that the trees of the Garden were the souls of righteous people soon to come. As the Tree of Life was the centerpiece in the Garden, the other trees were there around that Tree to glorify it. Therein lied Adam's problem. Because he was one of the two other trees already bedecked, his place was to glorify the Tree of Life. He did not; rather, he glorified the Serpent's tree to God's chagrin. Imagine how God felt, desiring to be glorified, and rather, he stood there in the Garden all alone with no glorification. It seems that Isaiah knew that!
     The surrounding "forest" in the Garden of Eden would have been full of trees. God wanted them all to be trees of righteousness, as they were of his seed (in His Image). They were planted as trees of righteousness and Adam was to serve them and keep them from harm. Rather than that, Adam set a bad example; he ignored the trees and served the wrong one - the Serpent's tree. He was told not to eat of that tree! Rather than consuming some type of passion fruit, think on that as not partaking of the Manna from Heaven,  which just as the Bread of Life, represents Jesus!
    If the reader thinks only of trees and fruit, much is missed! Think also of Jesus and his righteousness and the Serpent and his false doctrine - the doctrine of deception. The Lord wanted righteous trees and forests - those were righteous people and nations. Adam was given one job assignment, and he was a careless and apathetic worker. He blew the only real job that his Master assigned!
    Then, Adam was cast out of the Garden and really went to work.  No longer was he nourished by God but had to fend for himself. In the world, it was all about him! The other "trees' of the Garden remained neglected. Isaiah's point was that it was time to dress and keep the tree of the Garden (Israel) again, and encourage their growth in righteousness.
     I see trees as men. I see men as trees singing, and now I see righteous trees as righteous men. I understand the importance of serving and nourishing others. That is love. No, we aren't toe be tree- huggers like the pagans, but lovers of people. We are to love them as God first loved us. Dressing and keeping the Garden represents that type of love, and like Adam, most fail miserably.

Opened Windows

     The idea that there are "windows" in Heaven to be opened and closed has significance. Let us examine a few.

• In Noah's time the "windows of heaven" were opened up for miraculous rainfall. (Gen 7:11).
• The "windows of heaven were stopped," and the flood waters ceased. (Gen 8:2).
• Noah "opened the window of the ark" to see the miraculous  regression of the flood waters. (Gen 8:5-7).
• Elisha commanded to the king if Israel to "open the window eastward" to shoot the arrow for Israel's deliverance from the Syrians.(2 Kings 13:16-18).
• "The windows from on high are open" for the destruction of the world (Isa 24:17-19).
• With Daniel's "window being open," he looked toward Jerusalem from his captivity and prayed (Dan 6:10).
• God told Israel that he had been robbed. He asked that tithes be brought to Him and he would "open the windows of heaven" to pour out abundant blessings (Mal 3:9-11).
• A lord said to Elisha, "If the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be," referring to the price of flour (2 Kings 7:1-3).

     The assumption is that a sluice or channel was opened and closed for heavenly things to influence the Earth. "The window of heaven" then operates as a celestial valve. That "window" always pertained to what would become Israel. Jewish tradition and writings propose that the floodwaters which emerged from beneath to flood the Earth came from below the surface through the abyss below the Foundation Stone in Jerusalem.  Thus, the Foundation Stone, if that is the case, is a :sluice" or "valve" which controlled the floodwaters.

Foundation Stone (Wikipedia)

     That same Foundation Stone is for entry into both Heaven above and Hell below. It may be the actual straight gate of which the Doctrine of Jesus allows entry (Mat 7:13). The Foundation Stone was originally huge and has been chipped away. As it covers the abyss to Hades, indeed that "gate" is wide, according to the same scripture.

    The author believes that the "key" to the abyss to the bottomless pit fits the hole in the Foundation Stone (Rev 20:1).

    The ark of Noah is symbolic of salvation. When he looked out, he saw a new creation. Thus, the window of Noah's ark is symbolic of viewing through a window into Heaven. I believe Noah saw Jesus there at the right hand of God because he had such great faith! 

     On Earth, the Foundation Stone seems to be the "window" as it is the cosmic axis between the heaven and the Earth. Genesis 1:1 refers to power generated from God making what seemed to be something from nothing. Indeed, what came from Heaven generated the Earth, and that was the Power of God. That same Stone seems to be the "window" from which Heaven came down!

     Jerusalem, actually means "foundation of peace." The Garden of Eden was the abode of peace, and the Foundation Stone is surely the place in the "midst of the Garden" where the Tree of Life stood (Gen 2:9). Of course the Foundation Stone is the Ornan's threshing floor which David bought to sta the plague from the people. That stone had power. It was surely the window (channel) to Heaven!

     Solomon built a temple to God on that stone, and beneath the Foundation Stone is the Holy of Holies. That was God's home of Earth, sort of a rest place where he communed with the high priest once a year. Heaven is God's "throne" and the Earth his "footstool" (Isa 66:1). The Foundation Stone seems to be the covering for that "footstool." In other words, that opaque stone was the window to God on Earth. 

     Not only did heaven come down to generate the Earth on the Foundation Stone, but at the end, the City of God - New Jerusalem - will come down again (Rev 21). There will be a re-genesis at that same spot as the genesis!

     As the Foundation Stone is a physical "window", there was also a "window" on Heaven's side.  Scripture calls it a "sea of glass" and is described thusly: "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal" (Rev 4:6). That floor to the throne was transparent, and from below it was a transparent ceiling. For those who have victory over the Beast (Rev 15:2), it is a floor, but before they are in Heaven, they see God through that "window." The Light of God shines down through that "window" to persuade sinners of the truth, as is written, "Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light" (John 3:19a). 

     Of course the "light" that is shined through the window from Heaven is that only God can save (John 3:14). Truth is shined through the window of Heaven onto all men, but "Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil' (John 3:19b). Some just can't see the light because it is darkness to them.

     With the death of Jesus, the Foundation Stone lost its use. The curtain covering the Holy of Holies was torn, and people saw Heaven through a different "window." Jesus is the "window to Heaven" and the cross is its pointer. When Christians see the cross, they see into the Heaven - Jesus still sitting at the right hand of God! 

     Jews still fight for the opaque window of Heaven and are still in the dark. All the while they covet the Foundation Stone as the window to God, Christians not only see Heaven but many have used the cross as the Way for entry into Heaven. The water and  blood of Jesus was the sacrifice that flowed on the foundation of the Earth, but it also flowed upward as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Calvary was always the Way to Heaven but the Jews built God a house on the Foundation Stone that he really didn't need. Why so? Because His Plan was for Jesus to be the window to Heaven!

     The Foundation Stone just as the "window to Heaven" represents judgment. The threshing floor itself did in Ornan's time. It opens wide as the gate to Hell where the offal from the good grain is disposed. As the cosmic axis, it is also the window to Heaven - the way of Israel, but the narrow Way is the cross; actually by the Tree of Life himself - Jesus. The open arms of Jesus, represented by the lintel (the horizontal bar) on the cross is inclusive - "Whosoever believeth." That bar represents "choice" of which the Threshing Stone is symbolic.
     What is that "Power" which flows through the window to Heaven - the Power that creates and the Power which saves? It is God's "goodness;" virtue flows through the window. It the beginning as things were "very good" his virtue generated the heaven and the Earth. When God became flesh virtue flowed directly from him and healed (Mark 5:30), again instantaneously just as in the beginning. Undoubtedly, Jesus himself is the window to Heaven, and before God became incarnate, the Word  (John 3) was the window! Oh, don't forget - God closes windows too!

Challenging God

     These are the days of the "new time religion." People have created their own "god" in their own image! It is not God as He Is, but God as people desire Him to be! How do people want God to be? Subservient to their will. This is the "prayer of sinners": After this manner therefore say me: My Father which art in me, Hallowed be my name. My kingdom has come, My will be done in heaven, as it is in earth. Give to me this day my daily bread for I deserve it. Is that not how people think? It is their hidden prayer even when they say the Lord's Prayer!
     Recently, there is a plague of false Christian teachers and preachers out there... yes really out there! Yesterday, I read of a Christian who denied strict Christian upbringing and endeavored to justify his rejection of it. That is mere rationalization! 
     Everything should be tested by scripture, not twist scripture. The scripture is: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephes 6:4). Therein, the father has the responsibility to bring children up under the nourishment and teachings of the Word of God. Note that it must not be force-fed to children (provocation) but fed to them lovingly as a mother bird would feed their newly hatched birdlings. 
     Where have we heard that verse before? "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6). Thus, that advice from God is vintage wisdom and must be cherished as Epicureans would a fine wine (Not that I consume alcohol.) Note that scripture says "train up a child." How is training accomplished? Firstly, by continual demonstratiion. Even less intelligent dogs must be trained with continuity or they won't learn! The owner demonstrates proper performance.
     How is "the way he should go?" Note that it is should; there is a choice: should I or shant I? Force does not convince; it provokes. Children need to know why the training is good for them. "The way he should go" is why it is. That "Way" is the Way to Heaven -  Jesus Christ - the Way, Truth, and Eternal Life (John 14:16). Children often think they don't want to go to Heaven because in their own eyes, they shall not die. Youngsters make death a lie in their mind by not thinking about it. Because people fail to think on death does not make it inevitable.
     Children need a reason to be trained. At an early age, I realized that my reason was not necessarily eternal life but the avoidance of eternal torment. I'm not sure I was fully convinced! However, as time went on, God became less of a fictional punisher and revealed Himself to me as the graceful Rewarder. Training-up children has two techniques: reward and punishment. Reward is more effective becuse punishment may cause hate for the "master." 
    Dad triained us younger children but coerced the oldest. He encouraged me to want to obey him and God, but my brother felt provoked. He was trained but with the less effective method. However, in the end, he had not departed from the Way he should go. He told me that he failed to live up to what he knew was right.
     I was brought up with strict doctrine as the Doctrine of God is hard for those who are forced. I found the Doctrine of God fairly easy becaause I loved my trainer. I also, deep inside, loved God's Doctrine because it is just, loving, and fair. Why would I reject the messeneger (Dad) and the Message (Jesus's Way) when they were for my good?
     That Christian yesterday rejected his strict uobringing. He showed antipathy for the message when it should have been the trainer. Parents don't always train without provoking; obedience cannot be whipped into Christians because that is not God's Way. It is written, "Do not provoke the child." Children must want to obey God out of gratitude for the father's fairness and goodness.
     The issue at hand was denial that of the  Christian teaching that girls' immodesty contributed to his lasciviousness. He saw that as unfair and unjust. However, scripture is quite clear about immodesty. For instance, it was the cause from Bathsheba with the affect that David lusted, adulterated, and murdered. Bathsheba did not murder herself but was a contributor. The root cause was that a man after God's own heart failed God as many Christians do. Note that David never actually rejected the Doctrine of God, but temporarily removed it from his thoughts. 
     David blamed no one but himself, unlike Eve who blamed the Serpent and Adam who blamed Eve. "Thou shalt not commit adultery," is a hard teaching, especially when lusting is mental adultery! Should that hard teaching be dismissed just because it's difficult? No way! Should lust be overlooked just because chastity is difficult? No way! Should immodesty be overlooked just because with fashion trends, it is a hard thing to do? No way! 
     The most "unfair" thing in the Bible is when Uzzah accidentally touched the Ark of God to save it from falling off the oxen. (2 Sam 6:5; 1 Chron 13:9-12). Rather than God complimenting Uzzah and showing gratitude, God struck Uzzah dead. Why did that seem so unfair? Because Uzzah was only trying to help by doing things himself. God allowed the ox to stumble as a test. God would have saved the Ark Himself as it was his seat on Earth. Rather than depending on God, Uzzah depended on himself. Not only that, but he broke a hard rule - the Ark was not to be carried by any other way than men using the poles provided (Num 4:15; Deut 31:9; Josh 3:3;6). Uzzah disobeyed God's easy rule trying to reduce the difficulty in carrying the Ark. Uzzah made a easy rule hard and suffered for it!
     Being modest is an easy thing to do. It does not take much effort to be modest in dress and behavior. God expects modesty, and His will is that people of both genders be modest. That is not a personal preference but God's precept (1 Tim 2:9-10; 2 Pet 3:3-4; Prov 11:22; 1 Tim 2:8-10; as examples). Modesty is not only the covering of the flesh (Gen 3:7) but wearing apparel and modesty in dress and decoration. Why not get tattoos? It is immodest. Why not piecings? It is immodest. Why not too much makeup? It is immodest. Why not expensive attire?That is immodest? Why not provocative swimsuits? That is immodest. Hopefully, the point is made. Those are not my rules but God's will. 
     Modesty, as said before, is easy but teachings against lust are hard rules. It takes much effort not to lust, and certainly godly people can help by modesty. Scripture says, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Mat 5:28). There is a cause and affect in that precept: the woman is the temptation and the adultery the sin. This can also be turned around because men can be immodest and women can lust as well. That verse implies that the woman in that case is the bait in which men are snared. Men too can be the bait and ensnare women. 
     Immodesty is the bait and as was seen with David, sin the entrapment. Satan uses easy infractions to snare the most hard to get bait. Christian men and women fall for the bait quite often because tuning out their libido is hard. Chasity is a hard teaching! It is made easier by right attitudes. Rather than I must be modest, it should be, I'm willing to be modest to protect the opposite gender from the temptor. Willingness makes hard teachings easier. Modesty comes easier when it's done for right reasons.
     As lust is the hard one, people can be delivered from sin but it requires avoidance of temptation: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." With Uzzah, Satan tempted because God allowed it. He had His reasons; as a test of willingness to do the harder thing - carry the Ark. God allowed David to be tempted because he was thought to be "a man after God's own heart." It turned out, for a brief time until he convicted himself, that he was more of "a man after another man's own woman!" Perhaps if Eve had not displayed her wares, then David would not have sinned so grossly. He may have still lusted because men and women can lust even after modest people; immodesty just makes the challenge much harder!
     A faithful Christian can be chaste even in the presence of immodesty. However, that is entering into temptation. We ask God not to do that to us, then we do it to ourselves. That is foolishness.
     The Christian gentlemen wrote yesterday with resentment. He was angry with his parents for hard teachings and transferred those hard feelings to God. He went too far relieving the responsibility of women to be modest. He accepted the false notion that it was entirely on his shoulders to fight the Devil alone. Like Uzzah, that bitter Christian, could have depended on God for his own serenity and the woman for modesty. If women in his youth had hearkened to God, it would have made that young boy's lust less difficult to deal with. He would not be blaming his father and God for being so strict!
     God is strict! Neither men nor women can lust. That is merely thinking about sinning! Controlling thoughts is the hardest thing to do, and we should all admit: we need help controlling our thoughts because demons are always putting wrong thoughts into our minds.
     One of the greatest sins is being angry with God for having hard rules. If our attitudes are on God, then hard things are made easier, and anger with God is inexcusable. God has hard precepts to test faithfulness; to wit: Job's temptations from Satan. God allowed those as tests of faith, and indeed, they were extremely hard tests! Yet Christians don't even want to be modest. That would have been Job's easiest temptation, and he would have laughed at its ease in accomplishing.
    Many Christians twist scripture and God's intent for their own purposes. The man who was so resentful against his parents for right upbringing may have been angry with himself with failing God's expectations. Adam blamed Eve. This man accepted all the blame although many "Eves" out there share the blame. David used no excuses. He accepted the punishment; he and Bathsheba were both punished severely! Neither did Bathsheba complain. God does have strict rules and they are all for good reasons.
     David was better than Adam who blamed the woman when he made the excuse, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat" (Gen 3:12). With that rationale, God did not question Adam's excuse. He knew Eve had tempted Adam. However, both paid the price; Eve for tempting and Adam for submitting to temptation.
     Just think on how easy God's rule was: Don't eat of the fruit of that one tree. Both Adam and Eve fell for its beauty, delightfulness, and for obtaining wisdom. They lusted and they ate. Ever since, Satan endeavors to cause discourse between Christians and God by providing opportunities to lust. The easiest thing to provide is naked skin because it costs nothing. Both Adam and Eve partially covered their flesh with aprons of fig leaves, trying to be modest, but God covered them with cloaks of skins, thus covering most of their flesh.
     The Christian writer the other day rejected God's Word. Like the Serpent before him, he took truth and twisted it for his convenience. False teachers must be rejected. Is it not God's will for modesty? If it were not so, he would have not said so! That Christian made God out to be either a liar or a ignorant pretend God. That, my friends, is challenging God's Supremacy.